I love books.  I love to read.  When I hunker down with a book I want to read for hours…but there is work to be done, beads to be made.  And so I say ‘thank goodness for Audible.com!’

I have heard the arguments that audible books are listening, not reading.  Well, for me, it is reading and then some.  I get lost in the melting of glass and layering of color, and just as quickly, I get lost in the well-done telling of a story – a mystery, historical fiction, or a bit of ‘chick lit’. Sometimes I rush into the studio – as much to crank up the torch and make beads as to turn on the ipod and ‘read’ the next chapter .  When it comes to audible books – the longer the better.  At the moment, I am listening to more than 50 hours of “The Autobiography of Henry VIII” by Margaret George.  It’s a book I have read more than once over the past 20 years and yet, to have someone read it to me gives me a whole different insight and a lot of pleasure. Let’s face it – who doesn’t love having someone read them a story?

My audible books will never replace my love for the actual paper version…..nothing beats spending a whole day - turning page after page – being  a part of what the author has written,  seeing the characters, imagining their surroundings in my head…..and getting lost in the words.  But thanks to the technology – I can read almost anytime!

So, what are you reading this week?

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I've just returned from my favorite teaching venue - Snow Farm New Enlgand Craft Program in Williamsburg Mass.  It was the final week of classes for the season - and what a great time we had!  There were a couple of rainy days, but for the most part - it was a typical NE fall week for us - the last of the foliage fell by the end of week so I was grateful to grab a few images of the trees.  My class kept me on my toes - a mix of students with varying levels of experience - but I am pretty sure that everyone came away happy.  It will be a long winter for me without the trips to Snow Farm  - but it will give me something to look forward to in the Spring.

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I just love this time of year.  This has been one of the busiest traveI years I have had in recent time. Seems like I was gone every other week for business or pleasure.   I enjoyed the sweltering heat of Miami in July, the incredible rainstorms on Marthas Vineyard, and the cool, crisp air of late September in Bar Harbor to mention a few places.   I've also been host to a few dear friends from England and Ireland this summer.  What should have been a wonderful week of socializing turned into a big old 'moan fest' from me - you see, I had a little accident just before my friends arrived - tripped over my own feet and dislocated my shoulder (if this has ever happened to you, you know the hurt!  But friends stepped up to the plate and literally ran my house for me while I struggled with one arm.  I am on the mend right now - but  not completely up to speed with my beadmaking yet.  So I am looking forward to a bit of winter downtime - to relax, make beads, and stay home with my husband for more than 10 days at a time. Like I said,  I just love this time of year!

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So this time, it's not about the business.  This tiny blog is about family.  Its about a very special gal who has been coming to stay with me and David since she was 8 years old.  And this weekend, she got hitched!  Christmas's and summer vacations were more special when Sarah visited - she has an unbelievable knack for making me smile!  That her mom shared her with us was a truly amazing gift.  And as I saw her taking that walk down the aisle, I was a mix of emotions - really happy for her, and a bit sad for me.....wondering if she would treasure the memories as I would.  Later, at the reception dinner I learned that Sarah's 'something blue' was a bitty blue bead she made in my studio on one of her first visits - and there I have my answer!  Much happiness Sarah, to you and Adam.

 

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I am back from the Milwaukee road trip with Ann Campbell and boy, is my butt tired!  We had quite an adventure, getting lost only twice. Thankfully we had the help of Harriet the talking GPS to get us through. She sure loves those 'keep left' directions! The Bead & Button show....what can I say about that?  If you've never been, you don't know what you are missing!  There was so much wonderful new work at this show, not that I got much time for shopping :- ). And of course, it was great to see old friends (briefly) and to meet new ones (even more briefly)! I had great neighbors - Ann Campbell to my right, Karen Ovington and Browen Heilman to my left, and Heather Trimlett right across from me.  So, if you came to the show and stopped by my booth, thanks! it was nice to see you.  If you were not able to make it, well, here are a few pictures of what you missed!

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I am heading out for another road trip!  This time I am going with friend and fellow beadmaker Ann Campbell! www.kportbeadart.com.  and we are heading to Milwaukee for the Bead and Button Show!   The drive is about 17 hours,  but we'll break it up with a few stops - I doubt I can talk Ann into stopping at Indiana's  RV Hall of Fame, but I know there will be some other bright spots along the way. (Besides, I saw the Hall of Fame last year!) Well, I better go finish my packing! Stayed tuned for some stories of the road trip!

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With the Bead & Button show just a couple of weeks away, I have been hiding out in my studio getting a lot of new work made!  I came home from teaching at Snow Farm and found that my husband rebuilt a portion of the studio, bringing lots more light into the room.  As a result, I swear I am  being drawn into making very light and simple work.  It makes me so happy to see that kiln fill up with corals, and lavenders and pinks….little beauties that I trust will end up in some capable hands, ready to be turned into a fancy necklace or earrings.

So that got me thinking…..what happens to all those happy beads after they leave me?  I see a number of people returning to shows proudly wearing their designs but I want to see more!  So, I am planning  to have a section on my website to post pictures of what YOU have done with MY beads!  If you have a piece that you want to show off, please send me a high quality digital image. Once I have a good collection of work to show, I will upload the gallery of your work…..so come on…if you still have that Milano or lava lamp on a shelf, pull it down and make something!

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Well I am just back from a trip to the west coast - San Diego and Rosarito Beach in Mexico - and I cannot tell you how great it felt to be in the sun for a while.  There is nothing like travelling to get my creative juices flowing, and I am so happy to be back in my studio.  There is always a lot of work to do just before a show (Bead & Button is coming upon us fast) so I am going to print out a few of my travel pictures and keep them by my torch for more inspiration. Of course it was not all playtime in San Diego....I had a private student for one day - and spent a bit of time just talking about business with my gals Heather Trimlett and Beth Williams.  Here's what it looked like when I got to Mexico!

And of course, kicking a little sand on Coronado!

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I figured I would post this on the blog to explain myself! When I was really young I loved using every color crayon I owned to cover a piece of paper - then covered the entire thing with black crayon. I would then use whatever was handy - my fingernail, a pencil, the corner of a wooden block...to scratch away the black - I loved doing it in scroll fashion, as depicted in this bead - lines and dots! Come on - you know you did this too!
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The start of the new year brings some new work for me - I was fortunate to spend some time in collaboration efforts with Joy Raskin - a metalsmith in New Hampshire. Using some bright and colorful beads of mine, Joy has created these wonderful whimsical necklaces, bracelets and earrings.  They are available through her website http://store.metalornaments.com/  (you may have to cut and paste the link)

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It's true - I have caught Facebook Fever! It started out with one simple friend request.  I created a facebook account and then suddenly I was beseiged with new friends.  I felt like Sally Field ("they like me, they really like me!").  At first I thought 'what am i doing' ?  This is just going to take up a lot of time and really, what's the point?  In truth, I know only a handful of the people who are my FaceBook friends (FBF) - but I have found it to be a valuable tool to help me get to know some of those people that you only see once in a great while.  Okay, the voyeur in me likes seeing holiday and vacation pictures of people I will never meet.  And reading one sided conversations, while frustrating at times, is really a bit like trying to piece a puzzle together.  So, I continue to say yes to new friends.....feeling a bit like Typhoid Mary continuing to spread the fever all over the world!  In the picture.....why it is me of course! (if we were FaceBook Friends you would know that!)

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I woke up this morning and realized how lazy I have been this year.....while I should have been blogging, I have spent my time making beads, doing shows, teaching beadmaking, traveling to Europe, visiting family, getting my house painted, rebuilding the front porch, getting dental work done, rennovating the fireplace to install a pellet stove, cooking Thanksgiving dinner, making more beads.....see where I am going here? Next thing you know, the year is coming to a close, and you start saying things like, 'next year I will ........?

 I started this year off thinking that I would be a much better communicator....would do monthly updates of the website, start posting new things like earrings and bracelets.....come to think of it, I started 2007 off with the same good intentions - oh well!  Maybe in 2009???

Oh hey, there is something I nearly forgot....this year I was lucky enough to spend some time in Joy Raskins studio - she is a great metalsmith - and always so enthusiastic!  We collaborated on a few ideas of incorporating my beads into her silver work - simple and fun designs.  Right now Joy has some of the earrings on her website (http://store.metalornaments.com) and if all goes as planned, I will have some coming to my site soon (like you haven't heard that before). 

Happy Season Everyone!

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Remember when you were a kid and the summers just dragged on and on - what happened to those days? Time has been flying - i am back from my European Adventure just two months and already the garden is overgrown and my bead inventory is dwindling! Most of my work is currently in the Sandwich Glass Museum, on exhibit until the end of September. Here is a link to the website - and a couple of pictures I took of the exhibit (remember, I am a better beadmaker than a photographer!

http://www.sandwichglassmuseum.org/exhibits/possibilities

So... how has your summer been going?

 

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Here it is - the first time my poppies have bloomed and I love them! I snapped this shot the day I left for the Bead & Button show. Of course by the time I came home there was nothing left but yellow stems and seed pods (sigh!) Oh well, there is always next year!

 

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....and France, and England! I have spent the past month travelling abroad and boy, is my head buzzing - I can hardly wait to share all of the images, conversations and journeys with you through my new work. It may take me some time, however, so for now, i will leave you with a few pictures of the trip - Sacre Couer,

and me, riding the carousel at the bottom of that hill!

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